THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TMDL: Restoring Waters of Delaware and the Chesapeake Bay

1. THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TMDL: Restoring Waters of Delaware and the Chesapeake Bay Bay TMDL Public Meeting December 10, 2009 Laurel, DE Katherine Antos and Bob Koroncai U.S. EPA Region III 1

2. Click the double arrow to show or hide your control panel • Type your questions here. (Indicate organization) Note: Because of the large audience, not all questions will be answered, but they will be saved, and your questions will help drive future events and could contribute to a FAQ. 2

3. Technical Issues? Contact: Citrix Global Customer Support 1-800-263-6317 3

4. AGENDA Welcome, introductions, and meeting logistics – Kathy Bunting-Howarth, Director, Division of Water Resources, DCREC (5 minutes) EPA presentation on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and EPA expectations – Katherine Antos and Bob Koroncai, EPA (40 minutes) Next Steps – Jennifer Volk, DNREC (15 minutes) Public comments, questions and answers – Panel moderated by Kathy Bunting-Howarth (60 minutes) Adjourn 4

5. Panel to Address Public Comments Moderator: Kathy Bunting-Howarth, DNREC EPA: Katherine Antos and Bob Koroncai Delaware Department of Agriculture: Ed Kee, Secretary DNREC: Dave Small, Deputy Secretary City of Seaford: Dolores Slatcher, City Manager Nanticoke Watershed Alliance: Megan Ward Sussex Conservation District: Debbie Absher Natural Resources Conservation Service: Tim Garrahan Sussex County Administrator: Dave Baker 5

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7. Local Water Quality Issues 7

8. Delaware Local Water Quality • Surface waters of Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Drainage Basin are impaired because of: • Low levels of dissolved oxygen • High levels of nutrients • High levels of bacteria • Poor habitat/biology • Point and nonpoint sources of nutrients contribute to these impairments

9. Delaware Local Water Quality Delaware DNREC has established TMDLs for DO, nutrients, and bacteria for all impaired waters of the Ches. Bay Drainage Basin. Established TMDLs require significant reduction of nutrients and other pollutants from point and nonpoint sources DNREC working with interested parties and citizens to develop Pollution Control Strategies to implement TMDL reductions

10. Delaware Local Water Quality Pollution Control Strategies, when implemented, would result in attainment of State Water Quality Standards. The proposed TMDL for the Chesapeake Bay could provide additional resources for attaining State Water Quality Standards.

11. Delaware Local Water QualityTotal Nitrogen Rt. 545 - 304191 State-Line - 304071

12. Delaware Local Water QualityTotal Phosphorus Seaford STP - 304461 Rt. 13 Bridge - 304471

13. Delaware Local Water QualityDissolved Oxygen

14. Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Issues 14

15. Chesapeake Bay Watershed-By the Numbers • Largest U.S. estuary • Six-states and DC, 64,000 square mile watershed • 10,000 miles of shoreline (longer then entire U.S. west coast) • Over 3,600 species of plants, fish and other animals • Average depth: 21 feet • $750 million contribution annually to local economies • Home to 17 million people (and counting) • 77,000 principally family farms • Declared “national treasure” by President Obama 15 Source: www.chesapeakebay.net

16. Nutrient Loads by State Nitrogen* Phosphorus *EPA estimates a nitrogen load of 284 million lbs nitrogen in 2008. EPA assumes a reduction of 7 million lbs due to the Clean Air Act. This leaves 77 millions lbs to be addressed through the TMDL process. 16

17. Nutrient Sources of DE Sources of Nitrogen from Delaware Sources of Phosphorus from Delaware N and P values from 2008 Scenario of Phase 5.2 Watershed Model 17

18. Chesapeake Bay Health- Past and Future 18

19. Restored Bay Summary: 2008 Bay Health Assessment Priority Areas Water Quality 21% of Goals Achieved Habitats & Lower Food Web 45% of Goals Achieved Not quantified in relation to a goal Fish &Shellfish 48% of Goals Achieved Not quantified in relation to a goal Data and Methods: www.chesapeakebay.net/status_bayhealth.aspx 19

20. Low to no dissolved oxygen in the Bay every summer 20

21. The Chesapeake Bay TMDL • EPA sets pollution diet to meet states’ Bay clean water standards • Caps on nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loads for all 6 Bay watershed states and DC • States set load caps for point and non-point sources 21

22. The Bay science supports local pollution diets… Phase 4 Bay Watershed Model (2000-2008) Phase 5 Bay Watershed Model (2009- ) 22

23. …withdetailed representation of DE’s local watersheds 23

24. Taking Responsibility for Load Reductions Identify basinwide target loads EPA, States, DC Identify major basin by jurisdiction target loads EPA, States, DC Identify tidal segment watershed, county and source sector target loads States, DC, local governments & local partners 24

25. What are the Target Pollutant Cap Loads for the Bay Watershed? Current model estimates are that the states’ Bay water quality standards can be met at basinwide loading levels of: - 200 million pounds nitrogen per year - 15 million pounds phosphorus per year (Sediment target cap load under development-will be available by spring 2010) 25

26. Dividing the Basinwide Target Loading 26

27. Guidelines for Distributing the Basinwide Target Loads • Water quality and living resource goals should be achieved. • Waters that contribute the most to the problem should achieve the most reductions (on a per pound basis). • All previous reductions in nutrient loads are credited toward achieving final cap loads. 27

28. Nutrient Impacts on Bay WQ 28

29. Current State Target Loads Nitrogen Phosphorus All loads are in millions of pounds per year. 29

30. Delaware’s Past, Present and Future Estimated Loads Nitrogen Phosphorus All scenarios run through Phase 5.2 Watershed Model 30

31. Target Load Refinements • If States’ Bay Water Quality Standards can still be achieved… • The State may exchange nitrogen and phosphorus target loads within a basin; and/or • The State may exchange nitrogen and phosphorus loads from one basin to another within the State. 31

32. Pollution Diet for Each Tidal Water Segment 32

33. The Chesapeake Bay Performance and Accountability System 33

34. Employ Federal Actions or Consequences Monitor Progress Set 2-Year Milestones Mandatory Pollution Diet at Work Develop Watershed Implementation Plans Establish Bay TMDL: 34

35. Example: Projected Nitrogen Delivery from Major Basin in Each Jurisdiction by Source Sector Propose new legislative authorities Implement regulatory controls Examples of Some Planned Controls Propose increased budget to legislature Increased program budget Increased controls Rulemaking 35 26 Load Reduction Schedule 20 Interim Targets Final Targets Milestones for Assessing Progress Stage 1 Implementation Stage 2 Implementation • Also divide jurisdiction load by 303(d) segment drainage area and, by November 2011, local area • Attain jurisdiction-wide load reductions by the interim target, or justify why can still meet final target • Jurisdiction would determine desired 2-year schedule to meet interim and final target loads • EPA first evaluates milestones based on consistency with jurisdiction target load. EPA accepts shifts among source sectors, basins, segment drainages, and local areas if jurisdiction target load is met and local and Bay water quality goals are achieved

36. Federal Consequences Directed at states not achieving expectations Will be outlined in an EPA letter this fall. May include: Assigning more stringent pollution reductions to regulated point sources (e.g., wastewater, stormwater, CAFOs) Objecting to state-issued NPDES permits Limiting or prohibiting new or expanded discharges (e.g., wastewater, stormwater) of nutrients and sediment Withholding, conditioning or reallocating federal grant funds 36

37. Bay TMDL- Presidential Executive Order Connections • Create Federal Leadership Committee • Create the Performance and Accountability Framework • Expand regulatory tools for CAFO’s and urban and suburban runoff • Improve nutrient and sediment controls on federal lands and roads • Target farm conservation measures at high priority areas 37

38. Your Role in Bay TMDL Process Major basin jurisdiction loading targets Local Program Capacity/Gap Evaluation Final TMDL Established December 2010 Oct 2009 Bay TMDL Public Meetings Phase 2 Watershed Implementation Plans: Jan – Nov 2011 Divide Target Loads among Watersheds, Counties, Sources November-December 2009 Phase 1 Watershed Implementation Plans: November 2009 – August 2010 2-year milestones, reporting, modeling, monitoring Starting 2011 Public Review And Comment August-October 2010 38

39. Bay TMDL: Bottom-line • Actions will clean and protect local waters in DE thereby supporting the local economy • Restore a thriving Chesapeake Bay • Federal, state, local officials and agencies will be fully accountable to the public • Consequences for inaction, lack of progress 39

40. Further Information • Chesapeake Bay TMDL web site www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl • U.S. EPA Region 3 Contacts • Water Protection Division • Bob Koroncai • 215-814-5730; koroncai.robert@epa.gov • Jennifer Sincock (sincock.jennifer@epa.gov) • Chesapeake Bay Program Office • Rich Batiuk • 410-267-5731; batiuk.richard@epa.gov • Katherine Antos (antos.katherine@epa.gov) 40

41. Questions & Comments 41

42. Thank you for your participation. That concludes today’s meeting. 42

43. Extra slides